Filling detector for a weaving machine



July 1, 1958 J. FISHER FILLING DETECTOR FOR A WEAVING MACHINE Filed April25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN FlsHse BY #ZM Y July 1, 1958 J. FISHER FILLING DETECTOR FOR A WEAVING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ow R Q INVENTOR. JoH/v F/JHEB fl' I flrra e/vE s FILLING DETECTOR FOR A WEAVING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1955 J. FISHER July 1, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 QM, EK v NQ J7 m m \\\\\NV U 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. FISHER FILLING DETECTOR FOR A WEAVING MACHINE July 1, 1958 Filed April 25, 1955 Q vw m INVENTOR. JOHN HSHER BYMI United. States Patent FILLING DETECTOR FOR A WEAVING MACHINE John Fisher, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Warner 8: Swasey Company, Cleveiand, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,670

18 Claims. (Cl. 139-370) This invention relates to a filling or weft thread detector for a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type, and more particularly to a filling or weft thread detector located on the shuttle receiving box side of the machine.

In weaving machines of the gripper shuttle type a new attachment of the weft thread is made to each shuttie before the shuttles are shot successively through the shed from the picking box to the receiving box.

It sometimes happens that among the plurality of shuttles being fired through the shed a weft thread does not get attached to a shuttle. It also sometime occurs that a. weft thread attached to a shuttle breaks during'the firing of the shuttle through the shed and before the shuttle has reached the receiving box or is dropped by the shuttle.

In the Moessinger Patent 2,386,706, October 9, 1945, there is disclosed a mechanism for detecting the breakage or absence of a weft thread in the shed and upon such detection automatically stopping the weaving machine.

An object of the invention is to provide in a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type improved and novel means for detecting the absence or breakage or droppage of a weft or filling thread and upon such detection for instantly stopping the operation of the machine so that any pick back operation due to the omission or breakage of weft or filling threads is held to a minimum.

Another object or" the invention is to provide a filling or weft thread detector as referred to above and which is located on the shuttle receiving side of the machine;

In weaving machines of the gripper shuttle type there is used in conjunction with the shuttle receiving box or trap a reciprocating bar forming part of a mechanism for detecting at a predetermined period in the operative cycle of the machine the absence of a shuttle in the receiving box or trap and for instantly and automatically stopping the operation of the weaving machine should a shuttle fail to reach the trap at the proper time.

A detecting mechanism of the type just referred'to is shown and described in Pfarrwaller Patent 2,538,798, issued January 23, 1951.

A further object of the invention is to provide on the shuttle receiving side of the weaving machine an improved and novel filling or weft thread detector which functions at a predetermined time in the cycle upon the absence or breakage or droppage of a weft or filling thread to stop the movement in one direction of the bar forming part of the shuttle detecting mechanism to effect stoppage of the machine, wherefore the filling or weft thread detector and the shuttle detecting mechanism function through certain parts common to both to stop the operation of the machine in the absence or in the case of breakage of a Weft or filling thread or when a shuttle has not reached the shuttle receiving box or trap at the proper time.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore particularly specified will become apparent Patented July 1, i958 hereinafter during the detailed description of several embodiments of the invention which is to follow and which embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type and which machine embodies the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the weaving machine shown in Fig. l and is taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view of the inner side of the shuttle receiving box of the weaving machine and is taken substantially from line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain parts omitted including the feeler rod, reciprocating bar, catch arm, and positioning lever.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the shuttle receiving box shown in Fig. 3 with the cover plate removed and with certain of the parts shown in section and others omitted.

Fig. 5 is a view taken looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 3 and shows certain parts not illustrated. in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5 with a portion broken away to illustrate a shuttle in the receiving box or trap and also shows a portion of the shed with a weft or filling thread attached to the shuttle which has been shot through the shed from the picking box to the receiving box.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows but with certain of the parts omitted.

Fig. 8 is a detail View looking toward the right hand side of Fig. 5 and illustrating the filling detector feeler rod of the mechanism shown in Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive.

Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view taken looking at the right hand side of Fig. 5 and illustrating by full lines and dash lines various positions which may be assumed by the feeler rod and catch dog during the operation of the filler detecting mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but illustrating a somewhat modified form of filling detector mechanism from that shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a diiferent form of filler detector mechanism than has been shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and is taken looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view taken substantially on line 13-13 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line 14-14 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating by full lines and by dash lines certain of the operative positions of the parts.

Fig. 15 is a view taken substantially on line 15- 15 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows with certain operative positions of the parts indicated in full and in dash lines, and

Fig. 16 is a view taken substantially on line 16--16 of of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The invention is applicable to high speed weaving machines of the gripper shuttle type generally similar to the disclosures in such patents as Rossman, No. 2,099,627; Rusnov, No. 2,53 8,630; Pfarrwaller, No. 2,538,798, above mentioned; Darash, Nos. 2,654,397 and 2,660,201.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a rather brief summary description of a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type will be set forth inasmuch as the general features of this machine are known by those skilled in the art and are described in the patents her-einbefore referred to.

The weaving machine comprises spaced side plates 25 and 26 and reenforcing members 27 and 28 interconnecting the side plates, said side plates and reenforcing members constituting the supporting frame of the machine. The side plates 25 and 26 support a warp beam 29 which has wound upon it the warp threads 30. The warp threads 30 pass over a whip roll 31 and through a drop' wire detecting mechanism 31a and the heddles 32. The warp threads 30 also pass from the heddles 32 through a beat up reed 33 and after leaving the reed 33 the warp threads with the weft threads later to be referred to woven therein form the woven cloth C and pass over a roll 34 and thence around takeup rolls 35 and onto a cloth beam 36. The reed 33 is fastened to a lay bar 37 which is operatively associated also with shuttle guides 38. The lay bar and shuttle guides are carried by an arm 39 which, in turn, is carried and actuated by a lay bar shaft 40 such that the shuttle guides 38 enter the shed at the proper time for the firing of the successive shuttles and then leave the she-d after the shuttles have been received in the receiving box, while the reed acts to beat up the weft threads carried through the shed by the shuttles, all as will be well understoood in the art.

The shed is indicated at 41 and is formed by the heddles 32 acting to raise certain of the warp threads 30 and lower others thereof, all as is well known in the art, with said heddles being actuated by a shedding mechanism indicated at 42. The weft threads 43 are carried from a weft thread supply indicated at 44 and consisting .of one or more spools of weft thread which weft thread is carried through the shed by the shuttles which grip the weft threads and are fired from "a picking mechanism in- ,dicated at 45 to a shuttle receiving mechanism indicated at 46.

As is well understood in the art, a suitable tensioning device is provided for the weft threads on the picking side of the machine as, for instance, that shown in Pfarr- Waller Patent No. 2,589,429, issued March 18, 1952. It will be understood that the tensioning device is employed to impart proper tension to the weft threads for the beating up operation and to draw off the weft threads from the supply source 44.

It will be understood that after a weft thread has been fired through the shed it is tensioned by the tensioning device and is gripped by a holding and positioning device at the entry side of the shed and severed by a cutting device from the supply source, after which the tensioned weft thread while gripped at its opposite ends is beaten into the shed and then tucked into the succeeding shed. The weft thread is then released.

The timed motions of the various parts of the weaving machine are derived from a main drive shaft 47 which is 'driven by V-belts from a main motor 48, said belts ex tending into a hollow drum 49 surrounding the main drive shaft 47 and mounting therein automatic clutch and brake means functioning to effect rapid stop of the operating parts of the weaving machine in case of warp or weft thread failure or failure of a shuttle properly to arrive in or move out of the receiving box or trap.

The automatic clutch and brake mechanism may be of the type illustrated and described in Darash Patent 2,654,397 previously referred to. The clutch and brake mechanism may be actuated by the rocking movement of a master stop rod 50, see Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 4 illustrates in further detail the shuttle receiving mechanism 46 which is of the general type shown in the previously mentioned Pfarrwaller Patent 2,538,798. The shuttle receiving mechanism includes a shuttle trap 51 wherein the shuttles are received successively after they have been picked through the shed. In addition to the shuttle trap the receiving mechanism also includes means for returning the shuttles from the trap to the picking mechanism of the machine, but such means forms no part of the present invention and need not be further explained, as reference to said Patent 2,538,798 will clearly indicate the form of such means.

In Fig. 4 a shuttle 52 is shown in the trap 51. As in said Patent 2,538,798 the machine is provided with a shuttle detecting mechanism which functions to stop the operation of the machine should a shuttle fail to arrive at the proper time in the receiving trap. This mechanism will now be described. A bar 53 is supported in the receiving mechanism 46 for horizontal reciprocating movement. This bar 53 on its upper edge is provided with teeth 54. The bar 53 passes through an opening formed in a slidable catch block 55 which is mounted in a bore 56 formed in a wall portion of the receiving mechanism 46 and which bore communicates at one end with the shuttle trap 51.

The catch block 55 on the upper side of the opening therethrough is provided with a tooth 55a adapted to cooperate with the teeth 54 in the bar 53 under certain conditions and at a predetermined time during the operative cycle. A coil spring 57 in the bore 56 acts on the block 55 to normally urge said block in a direction to engage the tooth 55a with either of the teeth 54 in the bar 53 or with the top edge of the bar. The block 55 is connected by a rod 58 to a shuttle detector 59 located in the bore 56 at the trap end thereof.

It will be seen that the tooth 55a of the block 55 will engage the upper edge of the bar 53 so that the shuttle detector 59 cannot move under the action of the spring 57 into the trap 51 except when the teeth 54 on the upper edge of the bar 53 register with the tooth 55a of the block 55. However, if at this time a shuttle 52 is in the trap 51, then the shuttle detector 59 will bear upon the shuttle and the detector 59 and block 55 cannot move under the action of the spring 57 and hence the tooth 55a will not engage with either of the teeth 54 so that at such time reciprocating movement of the bar 53 can continue uninterrupted. When the bar 53 is moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4 the tooth 55a of the block 55 can ratchet over the teeth 54 in the bar 53. However, when the bar 53 is moving toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4, the tooth 55a may engage with one or the other of the teeth 54 to stop further right hand movement of the bar 53 if at such time a shuttle 52 is not in the trap 51. The bar 53 moves toward the left during the formation of the shed and toward the right after the firing of a shuttle and after the weft thread has been layed in the shed.

The reciprocating movements of the bar 53 are derived from a secondary shaft 60 driven from the main shaft '47 and which has fixed thereto a cam 61. The cam 61 cooperates with cam follower rollers carried by the divergent arms 62 of a lever 63, the upper end of which lever is pivotally connected to the inner end of the bar 53. The lever 63 intermediate its upper end and the divergent arms 62 is fulcrumed on a pivot 64 carried by a slide block 65 mounted in a suitable guideway formed in a slide block housing 66.. The slide block 65 at one end has a spring load imparted thereagainst by a spring 67. The opposite end of the slide block 65 is of step formation and is provided on the upper side of the step with a V-shaped recess 68 which cooperates with a ball detent 69 that is in contact with the lower end of a vertically extending rod 70. The ball detent 69 is held against movement with the slide block by a sleeve 69a surrounding rod 70. The rod 70 is operatively connected to one end of a lever arm 71, the opposite end of which is fixed to a rockable shaft 72. The shaft 72 has fixed to it a lever arm 73 extending in the opposite direction to the lever arm 71 and having its outer end contacting a vertically movable plunger 74, the lower end of which engages an actuating arm 75 fixed to the stop rod 50 previously referred to. It will be understood that the cam 61 through the lever 63 imparts reciprocating movement to the bar '53 during the operation of the machine with such movements so timed that the teeth 54 of the bar 53 will be operatively correlated to the tooth 55a of the block 55 during the right hand movement of the bar 53 whenever a shuttle 52 should be in the trap 51. Of course when a shuttle 52 is in the trap 51 at this time, as will be the case when the machine is operating and 54 and hence the bar 55 can continue its righthand movement. However, should it occur that a shuttle 52 did not arrive in the shuttle trap 51 at this time, the block 55 and the shuttle detector 59 would be free to move downwardly under the action of the spring 57 so that the tooth 55a would interlock with one or the other of the teeth 54, whereupon further movement of the bar 53 to the right would be prevented. When this occurs the pivotal connection between the right hand end of the bar 53 and the upper end of the lever 63 now becomes the fulcrum for the lever 63 and the cam 61 continuing to act on the cam follower rollers of the lever causes movement of the slide block 65 toward the left and against the action of the spring 67 due to the connection 64 between the lever 63 and the slide block. When the slide block 65 thus moves toward the left the ball detent 69 is pressed upwardly due to the V-recess 68 in the slide block 65 and this produces through the rod 70 an upward movement of lever arm 71 and downward movement of the lever arm 73 with a consequent downward movement of the plunger 74, the lower end of which acts on the actuating arm 75 to rock the stop rod 50 and through the clutch and brake mechanism to instantly stop operation of the machine.

Additional stop mechanisms are shown in Fig. 4 as operatively associated with the plunger 74, but said additional stop mechanisms need not be described herein since they form no part of the present invention and are explained in said Patent 2,53 8,798.

The present invention contemplates a filling or weft thread detecting and stop motion mechanism which utilizes the reciprocating bar 53 as part thereof. 'In accomplishing this the bar 53 is extended outwardly of the left hand side of the receiving mechanism 46 as viewed in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 3 and 5 to 9 inclusive there is shown what is now believed to be the preferred form of filling or weft thread detecting and stop motion mechanism embodying the present invention.

As already stated, the reciprocating bar 53 is extended so as to project outwardly of the side of the receiving box 46. The extended end of the bar 53 is forked as indicated at 76 (see Figs. 7 and 9). A dog 77 is secured in adjusted position on the forked end 76 of the bar 53 by a bolt extending through a vertical slot in the dog and between the tines of the end 76 and through a washer and secured in position by a nut. The lower end of the dog 77 has a camming edge 77a on its left hand side as viewed in Fig. 9 and a locking edge 77b on its right hand side.

' The dog 77 is arranged for cooperation with a catch arm 78 which is fixed at one of its ends to a rockable shaft 79. The catch arm 78 is diminishingly tapered toward its free end" where it has a catch tooth 78a. When the bar 53 moves toward the left as viewed in Fig. 9 the camming edge 77a of the dog 77 can cam the catch arm in a clockwise direction and pass thereover. When the bar 53 moves toward the right the catch tooth 78a of the arm 78 will engage with the locking edge 77b of the dog 77 under a certain hereinafter explained condition and will arrest further right hand movement of the bar 53 with a resulting automatic stoppage of the weaving machine.

The rockable shaft 79 is supported in spaced upwardly extending bearing portions 80a and 80b of a supporting member 80 secured to the side of the receiving box 46. The catch arm 78 is fixed to the end of the shaft 7 9 to the left of the bearing portion 80a as viewed in Fig. 5. A clamp block 81 is clamped to the other end of the shaft '79 beyond the bearing portion 80b. The block 81 mounts a weft or filling thread feeler rod 82. diate the block 81 and the bearing portion 8% an arm 83 is clamped to the shaft 79. The free end of the arm 83 has fastened to it one end of a coil spring 84, the opposite end of the spring being connected to the end of a bracket 85 secured to the side of the receiving box 46.

Interme-' The spring 84 functions to normally maintain the shaft 79 in the rocked position wherein the catch arm 78 and feeler rod 82 are in the fuii line position of Fig. 9. In this position a portion of the catch arm 78 engages the underside of a stop portion 86 of a lever 87 which is pivoted on the receiving box 46 and bears against a stop pin 88. The underside of the lever 87 is engaged by a spring pressed plunger 89 which acts to maintain the lever 87 against the stop pin 88. The stop portion 86 of the lever 87 acts to limit the counterclockwise rocking of the catch arm 78 and shaft 79 (as viewed in Fig. 9) under the action of the spring 84 while the lever 87 can be manually swung when desired away from the stop pin 88 to rock the catch arm 78 and shaft 79 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 84 to disengage tooth 78a from locking edge 77b. When the lever 87 is held by the plunger 89 against the stop pin 88 and the catch arm 78 is in the full line position of Fig. 9, the catch tooth 78a is in position to interengage the locking edge 77b of the dog 77 on the bar 53 and arrest further right hand movement of the bar.

The operation of the filling or weft thread detecting and stop motion mechanism hereinbefore described will now be explained.

it may be assumed that the weaving machine is operating and a weft thread shuttle 52 has arrived in the trap 51 and the bar 53 has completed its inward or right hand movement and starts its outward or left hand movement. At this time the feeler rod 82 is engaging the weft thread 43 that has been layed by the arrived shuttle 52 and said feeler rod and the catch arm 78 are held by the thread in broken line position A of Fig. 9 against the action of spring 84.

As the bar 53 moves outwardly or toward the left the layed weft thread is beaten up and the shed is closed. The outward movement of the bar 53 causes the camming edge 77a of the dog 77 carried by the end of the bar to cam the catch arm 78, shaft 79 and feeler rod 82 in the clockwise direction against the load of the spring from broken line position A of Fig. 9 to broken line position B thereof. A new shed is formed and a new weft thread 43 is gripped by a shuttle 52 which is fired through the new shed and then the bar 53 starts its inward or right hand movement. Just before the newly fired shuttle reaches its complete position in the trap 51 on the receiving side of the machine, the bar 53 has moved toward the right or inwardly sufficiently to allow the catch arm 78 to swing in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of spring 84 from broken line position B to broken line position A of Fig. 9 wherein feeler rod 82 engages the weft thread 43 and further counterclockwise movement of the catch arm 78 is arrested. Consequently the location of the catch tooth 78a is new such that the locking edge 77b of the dog 77 will not engage therewith and the bar 53 is free to complete its inward or right hand movement.

However, if the shuttle had not gripped the weft thread before being fired or if the weft thread had broken while being layed in the shed so there was no weft thread to be detected by the feeler rod 82 to arrest movement of the catch arm 78 in broken line position A, then the feeler rod and catch arm would move to the full line position of Fig. 9 wherein catch tooth 78a would engage with the locking edge 77]; of the dog 77 and arrest further right hand movement of the bar 53 before the completion of such movement. As soon as the movement of the bar was stopped the pivotal connection between the inner end of the bar and the lever 63 became the fulcrum point for said lever (see Fig. 4) and the cam 61 acting to further rock the lever 63 effects shifting of the slide block 65 against the load of spring 67. This results through the ball detent 69 in moving the rod 70 upwardly to rock the lever arm 71 and lever 73 to move the plunger 74 downwardly and rock the stoprod 50.to stop the oper ation of the machine.

It will thus be seen that should a weft or filling thread not be layed in the shed or should it break the operation of the machine instantly and automatically will be stopped so the operator can remedy the defect with a minimum pick back requirement.

A somewhat modified form of filling detecting mechanism is shown in Fig. from that previously described. In the modified construction the bar 53 is not provided with a detachable dog near its outer end but has formed therein on its underside edge a tooth notch 90. The bar 53 inwardly of the tooth notch 90 and on its side mounts a roller 91 which operates in the forked upper end of a rocker lever 92 that is fixed to the rocker shaft 79 and is provided with a pin 92a. Also on the shaft 79 and adjacent to the rocker lever 92 is a freely rockable catch arm or lever detent 93 provided at its free end with a pointed tooth 93a adapted to cooperate with the tooth notch 90 of the bar 53 and having secured to it adjacent to its other end the clamp block 81 for the feeler rod 82. A spring 94 has one end secured to the arm or detent 93 and its opposite end to the receiving box 46 and acts to rock the detent in a clockwise direction against the pin 92a and to move the feeler rod 82 will move to the broken line position of Fig. 10.

It will be seen that when the bar 53 moves outwardly or toward the left of Fig. 10 the roller 91 acting on the forked upper end of the rocker lever 92 will rock said lever and shaft 79, and due to the pin 92a the catch arm or detent 93 and feeler rod 82 will move counterclockwise against the spring 94 to move the feeler rod to the full line position of Fig. 10. During the inward or right hand movement of the bar 53 the same parts will rock in a clockwise direction due to the roller and slot arrangement and to the spring 94 until the feeler rod 82 engages the weft thread 43 whereupon such rocking movement of the feeler rod 82 and detent 93 is restrained and the bar 53 completes its inward movement with the pin 92a moving out of contact with the detent 93. However, if no weft thread is present the rocking movement of detent 93 continues under the action of spring 94 until the feeler rod is in the broken line position of Fig. 10 and the tooth 93a engages in the recess 90 of the bar and arrests further inward movement of the latter and stoppage of the machine is automatically and instantly effected as will be clear from the operative description of the previously explained form embodying the invention.

In Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive there is illustrated a further modification embodying the invention and which will now be described.

The rockable shaft 79 in this form has fixed to one of its ends as in the first described form a clamp block 81 which mounts the feeler rod 82, and inwardly of the block 81 there is fixed to the shaft an arm 83 to which is connected one end of a spring 84. The opposite end of the spring 84 is connected to the lower end of a rod 95 that is threadedly adjustable in a bracket 96 secured to the receiving box, wherefore the tension of the spring can be varied.

The shaft 79 remote from the arm 83 has fixed to it a rocker block 97 which can be engaged by the lower end of a vertically slidable plunger 98 mounted in a support 99 and provided at its upper end with a forked portion 100. The plunger 98 is normally maintained in an uppermost position by a spring 101 with the lower end of the plunger out of contact with block 97 and with a stop pin 102 in engagement with the support 99. The forked portion 100 of the plunger 98 mounts a pin which is straddled by the'forked arm of a lever 103 that is pivoted on an upstanding part of the support 99. It will be seen that rocking of the lever 103 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 13 depresses the plunger against the action of the spring 101 and rocks the block 97 and shaft 79 against the action of spring 84 and releases the tooth 104a from the edge 104b if they have been engaged.

The reciprocating bar 53 adjacent its outer end has se- 'ment.

cured to one side thereof (the left hand side as viewed in Fig. 12) a latch dog 104, the free end of which is provided with the shouldered tooth 104a. The bar 53 also has secured to it adjacent its outer end but on its right hand side (as viewed in Fig. 12) a hook member 105. The dog 104 and member 105 are secured to the opposite sides of the bar 53 by a bolt 106 passing through the dog, bar and hook member and extending laterally of the hook member and provided with a spacer sleeve 107. A camming block 108 is clamped on the bolt 106 between the head thereof and the outer end of the sleeve and in spaced relationship to the member 105.

The latch dog 104, the hook member 105 and the camming block 108 during movement of the bar 53 cooperate, respectively, with a latch 109, a block 110 and a follower arm 111 all fixed on the shaft 79 in axially spaced relationship to each other.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive will now be explained. The machine is operating and the bar 53 has reached its most inward or right hand position. At this time the hook of the hook memher 105 has moved the block 110 to the position shown in Fig; 15 and rocked the shaft 79 counterclockwise so the feeler rod 82 is in the full line position of Figs. 15 and 16, i. e., the inactive position. The bar 53 starts its outward or left hand movement and the spring 84 starts to rock the shaft 79 and feeler rod 82 clockwise from the inactive full line position as viewed in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. However, toward the end of the outward movement of the bar 53 the camming block 108 rocks the follower arm 111 and shaft 79 counterclockwise against the action of the spring 84 to inactive position. The bar 53 starts its inward or right hand movement after a shuttle with weft thread gripped thereby has been fired through the new shed. During this right hand movement of the bar 53 the block 108 allows the follower arm 111 and shaft 79 to rock clockwise under the action of the spring 84 until the feeler rod engages the newly layed filler or weft thread 43. The thread arrests further clockwise movement of the feeler rod except possibly that incident to forming a loop in the thread as indicated in Fig. 15. At this time the feeler rod has moved from the full line position to broken line position A. Also at this time the bar 53 has not completed its inward or right hand movement and the point of the latch 109 is not in the path of the tooth 104a of the latch dog 104 while the hook 105 has not engaged the block 110. The bar 53 is free to complete its inward or right hand move- However, if the feeler rod 82 did not detect a weft thread it would move to position B under the spring load and this would position the point of the latch 109 to engage the tooth 104a and arrest the inward movement of the bar 53 prior to its completion. As already explained in connection with the first form, this stoppage of the bar 53 would elfect automatic rocking of the stop rod 50 to stop the machine.

Although several forms of the invention have been illustrated and described herein it will be understood the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type having a picking mechanism and a receiving mechanism, a filling or weft thread detecting mechanism on the receiving side comprising a movable element associated with the receiving mechanism and driven in opposite directions in timed relationship to the shed formation and the laying of filling or weft threads in the sheds, a movable feeler, spring means for moving said feeler in a thread detecting direction, movable means operatively associated and movable in unison with said feeler, means carried by said element and cooperating with said movable means to move the latter and said feeler against the action of said spring means during movement of said element in one direction and allowing movement thereof by said spring means during movement of said element in the opposite direction, said movable means and said element carried means havingportions which interengage to' arrest the movement of said element in the opposite direction prior to its completion whenever there is an absence of a filling or weft thread to be engaged by said feeler, and means operatively associated with said element for automatically stopping the machine whenever the movement of said element in the opposite direction is thus arrested.

2. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said element is a bar reciprocably mounted in said receiving mechanism and extending outwardly thereof.

, 3'. In a weaving machine as' defined in claim 1 and wherein said feeler is a rod secured to a rockable shaft, while said movable means is fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relationship to said rod.

4. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said element is a bar reciprocably mounted in said receiving mechanism and having an end located exteriorly thereof, while the means carried by said element is located on said end of said bar.

5. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1 and niing' edge and a tooth adapted to engage said locking edge to arrest the movement of said bar in" the opposite direction prior to its completion.

6. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said feeler and said movable means are a rod and an arm fixed to a rockable shaft and spaced axially thereof, while said element is a bar reciprocably mounted in said receiving mechanism and having an end located exte'riorly thereof, and said means carried by said element is a dog mounted on said end, said arm having a tooth at an end thereof, said dog having a camming edge acting to rock said arm, shaft and rod against said spring means during movement of the bar in one direction and a locking edge adapted to engage with said tooth on said arm during movement of the bar in the opposite direction when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop such movement prior to its completion and effect automatic stopping of the machine.

7. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1 and wherein said element is a bar reciprocably mounted in said receiving mechanism and having an end extending exteriorly thereof, while said feeler and movable means are in axially spaced relationship on a rockable shaft, said extended end of said bar being provided with a roller and outwardly thereof with a holding recess, said movable means including a lever fixed to said shaft and having a forked upper end straddling said roller and a detent movable relative to said lever and adapted to engage in said recess when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop the movement of said bar in the opposite direction prior to its completion and effect automatic stopping of the machine.

8. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 1v and wherein said element is a bar reciprocable in said receiving mechanism and having an end extending exteriorly thereof, a toothed dog secured to one side of said end, a hook member secured to the other side of said end, a camming member carried by said end and spaced laterally thereof, said feeler being fixed to a rockable shaft, said movable means including a latch, a block and a follower arm all fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relationship thereon and cooperating, respectively, with said dog, hook member and camming member.

9. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type andhavingv a picking mechanism and a receiving mechanism including a shuttle trap or receiving box; a combined shuttle and weft or fiiling thread detecting mechanism comprising a plunger adapted to detect the prestime or absence of a shuttle in said trap or box at a predetermined time in the operative cycle of the machine, a bar reciprocating in said receiving mechanism in timed relationship to the operative cycle of the machine and having an end extending outwardly of said mechanism, said plunger and bar having cooperating means to stop movement of said bar in one direction prior to its completion when said plunger detects the absence of a shuttle in the trap or box, means operatively associated with said bar for automatically stopping the machine Whenever the movement of said bar in the said one direction is stopped prior to its completion, a movable thread detecting feeler, spring means for moving said feeler in a thread detecting direction, movable means operatively associated and movable in unison with said feeler, means carried by said outwardly extending end of said bar and cooperating with said movable means to move the latter and said feeler automatically and positively against the action of said spring means during movement ofsaid bar in the opposite direction to said one direction to position the feeler in a nondetecting locationand to allow movement thereof by said spring means during movement of said bar in the said one direction to position the feeler in a thread engaging and detecting location, said movable means and said bar carried means having portions which interengage to stop the movement of said bar in the said one direction prior to its completion whenever there is an absence of a filling or weft thread to be engaged by said feeler and thus automatically stop the machine.

10. A combined shuttle and weft or filling thread detecting mechanism as defined in claim 9 and wherein the. means carried by the outwardly extending end of said bar is a dog mounted thereon and having a camming edge and a locking edge while said movable means is a rockable arm having an edge cooperating with said camming edge and a tooth adapted to engage said locking edge to stop the movement of said bar in said one direction prior to the completion thereof.

11. A combined shuttle and weft or filling thread detecting mechanism as defined in claim 9 and wherein said feeler and said movable means are fixed to a rockable shaft and are spaced axially thereof, said movable means being an arm having a toothed end, while the means carried by said bar is a dog secured to the said outwardly extending end of said bar and having a camming edge acting to rock said arm, shaft and feeler against said spring means during movement of the bar in the said opposite direction, and a locking edge adapted to engage with said toothed end of said arm during movement of the bar in the said one direction when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop such movement of the bar in said one direction prior to its completion.

12. A combined shuttle and Weft or filling thread detecting mechanism as defined in claim 9 and wherein said outwardly extending end of said bar is provided with a roller and outwardly of the roller with a holding recess While said movable means includes a lever provided with a pin and having a forked upper end straddling said roller, and a detent movable relative to said lever and adapted to engage in said recess when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop the movement of said bar in said one direction prior to its completion, said spring means acting on said detent to normally maintain the detent in contact with said pin, said feeler being operatively connected to said detent.

13. A combined shuttle and weft or filling thread detecting mechanism as defined in claim 9 and wherein said outwardly extending end of said bar has secured to one side thereof a toothed dog and a hook member secured to the other side thereof, a camming member car- 'ried by said bar and spaced laterally thereof and from said hook member, said movable means including a latch, a block and a follower arm all fixed to a rockable shaft in axially spaced relationship thereon and cooperating respectively with said dog, hook and camming member.

14. In a weaving machine of the gripper shuttle type, a filling or weft thread detecting mechanism comprising a movable element driven in opposite directions in timed relationship to the shed formation and the laying of filling or weft threads in the sheds, a movable feeler, spring means for moving said feeler in a thread detecting direction, movable means operatively associated and movable in unison with said feeler, means carried by said element and cooperating with said movable means to move the latter and said feeler automotically and positively against the action of said spring means during movement of said element in one direction to move the feeler to a nondetecting position and allowing movement of the feeler by said spring means during movement of said element in the opposite direction to move the feeler in a thread engaging and detecting position, said movable means and said element carried means having portions which interengage to arrest the movement of said element in the opposite direction prior to -cally stopping the machine whenever the movement of said element in the opposite direction is thus arrested.

15. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 14 and wherein said element is a reciprocating bar while the means carried by said element is a dog mounted on an end of said bar and having a camming edge and a locking edge, and said movable means is a rockable arm having an edge cooperating with said camming edge, and a tooth adapted to engage said locking edge to arrest the movmeent of said bar in the opposite direction prior to its completion.

16. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 14 and wherein said feeler and said movable means are a rod and an arm fixed to a rockable shaft and spaced axially thereof while said element is a reciprocating bar and said means carried by said element is a dog mounted on an end of said bar, said arm having a tooth at an end thereof, said dog having a camming edge acting to rock said arm, shaft and rod against said spring means during movement of the bar in one direction and a locking edge adapted to engage with said tooth on said arm during movement of the bar in the opposite direction when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop such movement in the opposite direction prior to its completion and effects automatic stopping of the machine.

17. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 14 and wherein said element is a reciprocating bar while said feeler and movable means are in axially spaced relationship on a rockable shaft, an end of said bar being provided with a roller and outwardly thereof with a holding recess, said movable means including a lever fixed to said shaft and having a forked upper end straddling said roller and a detent movable relative to said lever and adapted to engage in said recess when said feeler does not detect a thread to stop the movement of said bar in the opposite direction prior to its completion and eifect automatic stopping of the machine.

18. In a weaving machine as defined in claim 14 and wherein said element is a reciprocable bar, a toothed dog is secured to one side of said bar adjacent an end .thereof, a hook member is secured to the other side of of the bar, said feeler being fixed to a rockable shaft,

.said movable means including a latch, a block and a follower arm all fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relationship thereon and cooperating, respectively, with said dog, hook member and camming member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATIENTS Pool Nov. 12, 1935 2,538,798 Pfarrwaller Jan. 23, 1951 2,639,732 Moessinger May 26, 1953 2,693,830 Darash Nov. 9, 1954 2,744,545 Taylor et al. May 8, 1956 2,785,701 Dunharn Mar. 19, 1957 

